Rotary plow



Dec. 5, 1950 E. ROSE 2,532,

ROTARY PLOW Filed April 30, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

Dec. 5, 1950 E. ROSE 2,532,424

ROTARY PLOW Filed April 30, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 HVVENYDR Eg 205 e E. L. ROSE ROTARY PLOW Dec. 5, 1950 ,6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 30, 1945 Dec. 5, 1950 L. ROSE 2,532,424

ROTARY PLOW Filed April 50, 1945 6 SheetsSheet 4 V k w 1N VEN TOR.

Dec. 5, 1950 I E. L. ROSE 2,532,424

ROTARY PLOW Filed April 30, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

Dec. 5, 1950 i E, L, ROSE 2,532,424

' ROTARY PLOW Filed April 30, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVEN TOR.

fiuafiose Patented Dec. 5, 1950 UNITED STATES "P ENT "OFFICE T .IROTARYLBLOW 'Eustace'lio'ring Rose, Charleston; W: Va.;assignor to Gravely Motor-Plow "& Gultivator Gompany,

-Dunbar; Va.

Application April 30, 1945, Serial No. 599,994

1a Claims. J!

.This invention relates to rotary plows.

An object of this invention is to, provide .as an attachment for a power means a rotary plow and operatingv means therefor.

Another object-f this invention is to provide a rotary plow construction including aplow member formed of a plurality of spirally arranged plow blades secured to. averticallyhadjustable shaft with the vertical shaft operatively coupled to a horizontaldrive shaft.

A further object of this invention is to provide a rotary plow constructionwhich will permit angular adjustment of the plow.

I A further obiect'of this invention is to, provide .in combination witha plow. of this type, an,ad justable shield which serves as aispreaderfor spreading the dirt laterally of. the. movement of the plow, the degree Of spreading-depending upon the position of the shield.

-A furtherobject of this inventionis to provide. a plow construction wherein theplow shaft may be disposed in a vertical positionon at .an angle to the vertical with the guiding wheels and axle therefor disposed on. the same ordifferent angle so that-if desired one wheel of..the guiding, wheels may be disposed in a furrow ,of the plowed ground whereas the-other wheel mayimoyeovertheuunplowed ground.

A further object of this invention is to. provide pulverized by the rotary. bladesandwillbedischarged laterally-of. the.m0vement oftheplow in an even manner so .thatasmooth..surfaoewill beprovided, thereby eliminating subsequentmharrowing and/ or raking of .the ground.

To the foregoingobjects and others which may hereinaftermore fully appear theuinvention consists of the novel construction combination and arrangement of parts, as. will. be more specifically referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but .itisto. be understood that changes, '-'varia.tions and-modifications maybe resorted to -=whichfall-within the .scope of the invention as claimed.

- Inthe drawings: V -Figure 1 is a. detail .front .elevationJof, a .Trotary plow construction embodying this invention,

Figure 2.-is a detail side .elevation.partly broken away ofthe device, I V v Figure 3 is. a fragmentarylongitudinal section of. the device,

Figure 4 is a fragmentarylongitudinal seotion 0f the forward portion of the, device,

- Figure 5 is a-fragmentary se.ctional;iview.,taken on theline -5- -5 of Figure ,4,

2 "Figure'6 is a" fragmentary sectional-view taken on the line" 6- 6 of Figure 4,

"Figure"? is a fragmentary-sectional View taken onthe line 1-"! of Figure 3,

'Figure 8 is a sectional-view taken on the line '"Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view of the 2 plow blade support and shaft,

Figure 'lo is a bottom-plan of the plowblade assembly,

Figure 11 is a plan view'ofoneofthe plow blades,

" Figure 12 is anend elevation of the plow blade,

Figure 13 is a sectional View taken on the line i3i 3 of Figure 11, and

Figure. 14 is afragmentary sectional View taken 7 on'the'line Hi-+l4 ofFigure 3.

, Referring to the drawings-the numerals 15,

' i5 and I? designate a hollow housingassembly,

the numeral 15 comprising a rear tubular housing, the numeral 16 designating an -intermediate gear housing and the numeral ll designating aifront tubular supporting housing which is in ,axial alignment with the rear housing I5.

The rear housing 15 comprises an outer tubu- L lar member 18 which has formed integralwith a rotary plow structure whereinsthe soil, willkbe i the forward end thereof afiangel9. An inner ,sleeve 2i! is loosely disposed-within the outer 1c housingJB and includes. a rear annular enlargement 2 i forming a shoulder 22- againstwhich the '7 rear end ofthe housingor sleeve 58 is adapted to engage. The enlargement 2! is formed at its .rear end witha flange 23 having an annular rabbet24 by means of which fastening bolts 25 extending throughthe flange; 23 may secure the A housing '15 to a prime mover ,or power'device, A -,,drive shaft 25. is rotatably disposed within the sleeve 20 being rotatably supported in the sleeve 26 by means of a rear anti-frigtion bearing 2'! .and a forward antic-friction bearing '28. The, ear end of the .s-haft.26 is formed, with longitudinal splines 29 on whichjthe bushing .38 of a toothed coupling 3| is secured by'means of a nut ;32,- which isthreaded on the rear end ofithe shaft '26. A

26 forwardly of theiantifrictionbearing 2T-and rear paoking member 33 is dispose d about shaft pa forward packing, or sealing member 3i is ,-mountedabout theforward portion of the shaft es inwardly of the bearing. 28. 1

. jIhe. outer sleeve! Sis adapted to be cirpumferentially adjusted with respect t the n r-sl e 2i! .by means. of. a .sleeve adjusting lever or arm 35, whiohis formed with a split ring 35 engaging about theii earportion of 'thesl eeve 13. The split ring .36 is firmly secured respectto thefsle'eve I8 by means of a clamping bolt 31 engaging through a pair of ears 39 carried by the split ring 36 and a segmental key 39 engages in complementary key-way carried by the split ring 36 and the outer sleeve iii. The lever or arm 35 has a rearwardly projecting lug 99 extending therefrom in which a lever clamping bolt or screw II is threaded.

A plate 42 is fixed to the forward side of the flange 23 by a pair of the fastening members 25 and is formed with an arcuate slot 53 through which the bolt or screw ii engages. When lever 35 has been rocked to the desired position this lever is then locked in its adjusted position by tightening of the bolt or screw ll.

The gear housing I9 includes complementary upper and lower housing members, which are secured together by means of bolts 4 The upper gear housing member comprises a top wall 45 and a circular side wall or flange 49, which is formed with a rabbet ll at its lower end. The lower half of the gear housing comprises a bottom wall 69 having an annular side wall or flange 49 which is also formed with a rabbet 59, so that the two flanges 46 and 49 may be locked together. The rear end of the gear housing It. is formed with an annular bushing I within which the rabbeted forward end 52 of the flange i9 is adapted to be secured by fastening members 53.

The forward tubular housing I'I comprises an elongated tubular member 54 having an annular flange 55 at the rear thereof, which is formed with a rabbet 53 engaging with an annular flange 5'1 carried by the forward end of the gear housing I8. The flange 55 is firmly secured with respect to the flange 51 by means of fastening v members 58. The forward end of the tubular member 59 is provided with a reduced diameter extension 59 having an annular flange 93 at the forward end thereof and forming a rear shoulder BI. A split clamping sleeve 62, which is formed of an upper semi-cylindrical sleeve member 63 and a lower semi-cylindrical sleeve member 64 engages about the reduced member 59 and the complementary clamping members 63 and -64 are formed with opposed pairs of cars 95 and 96 respectively, which are secured together by means of bolts 61. The supporting sleeve 52 may be either tightly or loosely mounted on the reduced extension 59. An upwardly extending plate 99, which is braced by a bracing web 99 is carried by the upper member 63 and the plate 99 engages between a pair of vertically disposed ribs I9, which are carried by a vertically disposed plate I I. The plate ll is formed with an elongated slot I2 through which a clamping bolt I3 loosely engages, the bolt I3 being threaded into the plate 68.

The bolt I3 is formed with a polygonal head I4 and a washer I5 is interposed between the head I4 and the forward side of the plate II. The supporting plate H is formed at its upper end with a forwardly extending flange it which serves as a reinforcing means for the upper end of the plate II. The head 14 of the bolt I3 is provided with an opening ll therethrough and a bar is loosely engages through the hole TI and is provided at the opposite ends thereof with knobs IS. The bar I9 provides a means whereby the bolt I3 may be readily turned to either clamping or released position.

The lower end of the plate H is provided with a transversely extending groove or channel 89 within which an axle 9| for a pair of wheels 82 is adapted to engage. The axle 8! is tightly secured in the channel 89 by means of a clamping plate 83, which is held in clamping position by means of a pair of fastening members 8 threaded into the lower portion of the plate 'II. By means of the clamping plate 83 the axle 8| may be endwise adjusted to the desired position. Normally the clamping plate 83 will engage the center of the axle or shaft BI, but if desired this axle or shaft may be shifted endwise to provide for a short portion of the shaft at one side of the plate H and a longer portion on the opposite side or edgethereof. The provision of the clamping bolt 73 provides a means whereby the forward end of the housing I! may be vertically adjusted with respect to the shaft or axle 8i and the wheels 82 so as to position the plow assembly, to be hereinafter described, at the desired position with respect to the ground.

The drive shaft 26 has secured to the forward end thereof a bevelled pinion or driving gear 95, which meshes with a larger gear 86. The gear 86 is fixed by means of fastening members 9? to the annular flange 83 of a bushing or hub 89 rotatably disposed in the housing I6. The bushing 89 is provided with a reduced diameter upper portion 99 extending upwardly through the top wall $5 of the housing I6 and an anti-friction bearing 9| engages about the reduced diameter por tion 99 and is positioned in an annular enlargement 92 carried by the central portion of the top wall 95. A sealing cap 93 having a flange 94, which is secured by fastening members 95 to the top wall 45 engages about the stud or reduced diameter portion 99 of the hub 89 and a sealing member 99 is mounted within the cap 93. The sealing member 96 is U-shaped in transverse section having the bight thereof uppermost and a second sealing washer 9'! is interposed between the sealing member 96 and the upper wall of the cap 93. The hub 89 is formed with a polygonal bore 98 through which a polygonal shaft 99 loosely engages.

The shaft 99 constitutes the plow blade supporting shaft and is provided with a plurality of holes I99, through which a cotter pin or shaft adjusting member I9I is adapted to engage for supporting the shaft 99 in the desired adjusted position with respect to the hub 89. The hub 89 also includes a lower stud shaft I92, which extends through the bottom wall 48 and an antifriction bearing I93 engages about the stud shaft I92. A cap I94 having a flange I95, which is secured by fastening members I95 to the bottom wall 48, engages about the shaft 99 and bears against the anti-friction bearing I93. A sealing member I9! is disposed within the cap I94 being U-shaped in transverse section and a second sealing ring I98 is interposed between the bight of the sealing member I91 and the lower wall of the cap I94.

The shaft 99 has secured to the lower end thereof a plow blade structure including a plurality of plow blades generally designated as I99. The blades I99, which are shown in detail in Figures 11, 12 and 13, include a plate I I9, which is formed with an inner straight edge I I I, an outer convex edge I I2 and a lower straight edge I I3. The lower edge I I3 merges with the lower end of the straight edge vI I I on a convex curvature I M'and the edges II2, I I3, II4 may be bevelled so as to provide for the desired cutting of the ground as the blades are rotated. The pointed end formed by the junction of the vertical edge I and the lower edge H3 is formed with an upper or inner concave curvature I I5 and an outer convex curvature cured by a fastening carried by one side ofthe gear housing slime the position shown in the length of the shaft 99;as-shown more clearly inlFigureZ. g The" spiderformedbythe hub] I 8 and the arms I I1 is-provided with'a polygonal bore 120 through 1owardlyfromsaidgear ho sing an which the'shaft 99 loosely engagesandaolamping' nut I21: is threadedonthe lower enclof ,the shaft 99 andtightly holds hub I18 onshaft ilfi.

iDur'ing the rotationof the ployv blades [09 the carried by,.the inner end thereof which is semember I24 to an ear. l25

shield or deflector I22 can be angularly adjusted ..withprespect to the plow blade assembly, so that the dirt loosened by the plow blade assembly will be deflected for the desired distance laterally of the movementof the device.

In'the use of this device, V I 1 1lCh :lS formed asan 1 attachment for a, prime mover or power device such as a tractor whicnmaybe a hand tractor or otherwise, the housing 15 is secured to the forward end of theprimernover by the fastening ing at right angles to sai "members .25.

} .D uring normal operation of the device, the housing i5 withthe housing It. may

bejangularly adjusted with respect to the vertical, so that the lower edges l 13 of the plow blades will be substantially horizontal. "After the first fur- 3 row has been made, the wheel assembly will as- Figure 1 with one wheel engaging in the furro'wand thother wheel on the unplowed surface. Rotation of the drive r oircumferentially a 25 b lar ho si an nte m d at g arma w e ein. s rearihoi s s n ?1} d outer d grees? a a t9 tli ebrediu t fi ins position of said plowshaft relative toth vertical. 5.;A ro a vcp wqav, a. (10in ubula .nous naiaai term iiet .a ho zon a i ncr ins member. l f

d igning with t N w v e atablei'n said rear us naia low sha t ga d s y ds housing at right angles to said drit'e shaft, a

* said rear housing, a driv e, shaft -ge ar connection b tween said :drive and fpiow dirtiwill'be. thrownupwardly and laterally and 15..Shaftspatraction meansfatjthefioifs ard nd'of this yi t y be. guided ordistributedmy v 1 means of a curved.shield lZZhaving a; lug J23 lfi- T 20 .t mean n i en a ement wit Said a or diu t we ins a d ,1 Yt e n tion means" whereby said horizontal supporting member may e Ve t ally adi 's d- 6, A rotary ploy attachment comprising arear Q earfho" a supportingmember ext nding forwardly said-gear housing and a ing witHEaid rear ;housing, a drive shaftg rotatable i'nsaidfi'ear housing, @QPIQW shaft carried. byi'said'jgeaf'housd drivefshaf-tfa 'gear connection between said 7 ve afidi plciv' shafts, traction means at the forwa'rd emr'qr 'saidsupp orting member, a sleeve rotatably "earned by said supporting member, an' upstanding"plate 5 carried by said sleeve, a second upstanding plate oarried by said traction ;riians','fveruea1 guide means carried by said second plate between -hioh said first namedplate engages; andineans adiustably locking said first piatewnanve to shaftl26 will effect rotation of the plowshaft ii, 40 sa s co d plate.

.the latter rotating clockwise; and as the plow .blades rotate, ,th H thrown. upwardly at one side. of the movement of the device and this loosened flying dirt may 7 i be distributed over the desired area laterally of housing, a drive shaft rotatable in 'saidfr'ear dirt loosened thereby will be ithe furrow, whiol is being made by the plow 'assembly'jby adjustment of the shield ordis- 'tributor 122.

'Preferably the wheel assembly messia "mountedon the forward end of the forwardhousmg I? at. sleeve .53 so that the wheel assembly securing said coupling member to said plate, an 65 ing,

axle carried by said plate,-and wheels carried by said axle.

2. A rotary plow attachment as set forth in claim 1 wherein said securing means is adjustable lengthwise of said plate.

3. A rotary plow attachment as set forth in claim 1 wherein said coupling member includes a sleeve rotatably carried by said forward housing and a plate disposed at right angles tothe bore of said sleeve.

' V a supporting '7, A rotary plow it ti mentmiapnsmg a rear tubularhousing, an intermediate gear'housing, member extending forwardly' from said gear housing and al iigiiing with "said r'ear housing, a, plow shaft carried by said gear housing, at; right angles to; s'aiddrive "shaft, a gear connection between said antenna-no shafts, a traction means at the forward end'of said' supporting member, a sleeve rotatably carried by said supporting member, a vertical member releasably secured tethe sleeve and earned by the traction means for adjustably securing said sleeve to said traction means whereby said supporting member may be vertically adjusted, a

rear sleeve loosely disposed in said rear housing, means for securing said rear sleeve to a power means, and a clamp engageable between the rear housing and rear sleeve for adjustably looking said rear housing in circumferentially adjusted position relative to said rear sleeve.

8. A rotary plow attachment comprising a horizontal tubular housing having a plurality of sleeves, a drive shaft journalled in the housa plow shaft journalled in the housing norma l to the drive shaft, operative drive connections between said shafts, a transporting carriage having an axle, a vertical support member carried by said axle with said housing adjustably secured thereto and a circumferential clamp carried by the sleeves of said housing for releasable engagement therebetween to adjust the housing and plow shaft angularly on a horizontal axis.

9. A rotary plow attachment comprising a horizontal tubular housing, a drive shaft jour-i 7 nalled in the housing, a plow shaft journalled in the housing normal to the drive shaft, operative drive connections between said shafts, a transporting carriage having an aXle, a support carried by the axle, said support being formed with a vertical slot extending upwardly of the axle and a horizontally movable clamp in engagement with said axle for laterally and vertically adjusting the housing, means to couple the drive shaft to a prime mover and a rotatable coupling carried by the housing for adjustment of said housing and plow shaft therewith angularly on the drive shaft as an axis.

10. A rotary plow attachment comprising a rear tubular housing, an intermediate gear housing fixed to the rear housing, a supporting member fixed to and extending forwardly from said gear housing and aligning with said rear housing, a drive shaft rotatable in said rear housing, a plow shaft carried by said gear housing at right angles to said drive shaft, a gear connection between said drive and plow shafts, a traction means at the forward end of said supporting member, a sleeve rotatably carried by said supporting member, and a slotted support carried by the traction means with said sleeve in releasable engagement with said .slot for adjustably securing said sleeve to said traction means whereby said supporting member may be vertically adjusted or angularly adjusted laterally.

11. A rotary plow attachment comprising a rear tubular housing, an intermediate gear housing rigid with the rear housing, a supporting member rigid with and extending forwardly from said gear housing and aligning with said rear housing, a drive shaft rotatable in said rear housing, means to operatively connect the drive shaft to a tractor, a plow shaft carried by said gear housing at right angles to said drive shaft, 2, gear connection between said drive and plow shafts, a traction means at the forward end of said supporting member, a sleeve rotatably carried by said supporting member, an upstanding plate carried by said sleeve, a second upstanding plate carried by said traction means, vertical guide means .carried by said second plate between which said first named plate engages, and means adjustably locking said first plate relative to said second plate.

12. A rotary plow attachment for a tractor comprising a rear tubular housing, an intermediate gear housing, a supporting member extending forwardly from said gear housing and aligning with said rear housing, a drive shaft rotatable in said rear housing, means to connect the rear housing to the gear housing, means to couple the drive shaft to the power means of the tractor, a plow shaft carried by said gear housing, at right angles to said drive shaft, means between the connecting means and rear housing to angularly adjust the latter on the drive shaft as an axis, a gear connection between said drive and plow shafts, a traction means at the forward end of said supporting member, a sleeve rotatably carried by said supporting member, a vertically slotted plate adjustably secured to the traction means with the sleeve boltingly secured to said slotted plate for ad ustably securing said sleeve to said traction means whereby said supporting member may be vertically adjusted, a rear sleeve loosely disposed in said rear housing, means for securing said rear sleeve to a tractor, and means adjustably locking said rear housing and plow shaft in circumferentially adjusted position relative to said rear sleeve.

13. A rotary plow comprising a horizontal housing, a horizontal drive means in the housing, a vertical plow shaft, a vertical sleeve rotatable in the housing, operating means connecting said drive means with said sleeve, said plow shaft being shiftable in the sleeve, a transversely extending stop carried by the plow shaft and longitudinally adjustable thereon to adjust the shiftable position of the plow shaft in the sleeve and a clamping sleeve carried by the housing for adjusting the housing angularly.

EUSTACE LORING ROSE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 78,400 Standish May 26, 1868 258,046 Fogarty 'May 16, 1882 330,452 Wittram Nov. 17, 1885 704,857 Castelin July 15, 1902 768,106 Williams Aug. 23, 1904 1,208,856 Storey Dec. 19, 1916 1,569,962 Biggers Jan. 19, 1926 1,605,707 Carpenter Nov. 2, 1926 1,773,672 Grim Aug. 19, 1930 2,050,120 Pizarro Aug. 4, 1936 2,279,652 Beard Apr. 14, 1942 

